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Entry pathway and potential impacts of microplastics in air, water, soil and human health: a review
Summary
Researchers reviewed microplastic pathways and impacts across air, water, soil, and human tissues, highlighting that airborne particles adsorb additional chemical pollutants, marine organisms face both mechanical harm and trophic transfer of contaminants, soil uptake by plants extends exposure up the food chain, and microplastics have now been detected in every human tissue type examined.
In this study, we discuss the existence and impact of microplastics in different ecosystems, including water, soil, air, and the human body, as well as the absorption of pollutants into these microplastic particles. Airborne microplastics have been detected in the atmosphere as well as indoors and outdoors. Microplastics in the air, in addition to inherent toxicity, may cause more risks to human health and the environment than virgin microplastics through the absorption of pollutants and chemicals. Due to the widespread use of plastics around the world, the abundance of microplastics in aquatic environments has increased. Microplastics can be ingested by a wide range of marine organisms, so it is possible that contaminated microplastics cause mechanical damage to organisms and there is also the possibility of contamination being transmitted to marine organisms and the marine food web. Accumulation of microplastics in the soil can cause them to be absorbed by plants and transport these microplastic particles and pollutants absorbed by them along the food chain. Highly populated urban centers, industries or large-scale agriculture are the main causes of soil contamination by microplastics. Microplastics can find their way into the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. Researchers were able to find microplastic particles in all human tissues studied.